Gabriel’s Inferno Trilogy by Sylvain Reynard Page 0,443

that I’m pulling in the big bucks as a teacher.”

Paul found himself smiling, and his smile was genuine.

“Only if you let me take you to breakfast at Mirabelle’s.”

“Great. When?”

“Get your coat.”

He followed her to the back door and helped her with her coat. When she nearly toppled over trying to put her Uggs back on, he knelt on the sandy, salt-licked floor and slid them on her feet.

“Half of you is better than the whole of anyone,” she whispered, if only to herself.

Chapter Fourteen

July 2011

Oxford, England

At the beginning of the conference’s lunch break, Julia excused herself to go to the ladies’ room, asking Paul to wait for her return. She was ascending the staircase on her way back to the lecture theater when a pair of Christian Louboutins came into view.

Julia’s gaze traveled up a pair of legs clad in silk stockings to a black pencil skirt, to a fitted jacket, and thence to the face of Christa Peterson.

Her expression was hostile but noticeably tense as she clutched the railing with whitened knuckles. She shifted her weight between her feet as if she were uncertain whether to proceed or to retreat.

“I can’t wait to hear your paper. I’m sure I’ll have a few questions.”

Julia ignored her and tried to move forward, but Christa blocked her.

Julia huffed impatiently. “What do you want?”

“You think you’re so smart.”

“We have nothing to talk about.”

“Oh yes, we do.”

Julia screwed her eyes shut before opening them incredulously. “Seriously? You want to have this argument here, at a conference? Don’t you see how your actions are hurting your career? Gabriel says that Columbia made you enroll in the M.Phil rather than the PhD. You burned bridges in Toronto, and you’re burning them here. Don’t you think it’s time to let things go?”

“I don’t give up that easily.”

“Your vendetta is ridiculous. I never did anything to you.”

Christa laughed darkly.

“It isn’t about you. You aren’t worth troubling about.”

“Then why?”

Christa tossed her hair. “You have something I want. I always get what I want. Always.”

“Let me go.” Julia lifted her chin defiantly.

Christa’s almond-shaped eyes passed over Julia from head to foot.

“I don’t understand what he sees in you. You aren’t that pretty.” She waved a contemptuous hand at Julia’s unassuming suit and less-than-designer shoes.

“Gabriel is beautiful. He’s a legend. All the women at Lobby knew him and all of them wanted to fuck him.” She looked at Julia scornfully. “Yet, somehow out of everyone, he ends up with you. But you won’t be able to keep him. He needs to be with a woman whose appetite is as voracious as his.”

“He is.”

Christa laughed, the sound tinny and brittle. “Hardly. I’m sure he enjoyed the conquest, at the beginning. But now he’s had you, his eye will wander and you’ll lose him.” Her eyes flashed with a knowing light. “He’s probably cheated on you already. Or he’s planning to.”

“If you don’t let me go, I’m calling for help. Do you really want to be embarrassed in front of everyone? Again?”

Christa hesitated, and Julia took the opportunity to brush past her. She was two steps from the top of the staircase before she stopped. She turned around.

“Love,” she said quietly.

“What?”

“You’re wondering what Gabriel sees in me. The answer is love. I know about the other women. He hasn’t kept secrets from me. But they aren’t a threat.”

Christa put her hands on her hips. “You’re delusional. So you love him. So what? Look at yourself. Why would he want such a vanilla little mouse when he could have a tiger in his bed?”

“Better a loving mouse than an indifferent tiger.” Julia straightened her shoulders. “Those women didn’t see who he truly is. They didn’t care that he was miserable. They would have used him until there was nothing left and then thrown him away. I’ve loved him since I was seventeen. I love all of him—the light and the dark, the good and the bad. That’s why he’s with me. He left the others behind and he will never go back. So do your worst, Christa. But if you’re planning to seduce my husband, you—will—fail.”

Julia turned to walk away but stopped again, facing Christa one last time.

“You’re right about one thing, though.”

“And what’s that?” Christa sounded contemptuous.

Julia smiled knowingly. “My husband is an exceptional lover. He’s attentive, creative, and absolutely mind-blowing. And tonight and every night, the woman enjoying his adventurous nature will be me.”

She gave Christa a long look.

“Not bad for a mouse.”

“I’m sorry you had another run-in with Christa.” Paul’s tone